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Monday, June 25, 2018

Sri Azhagiya Singar Garuda Sevai 2018

In the grand Brahmothsavam,
each Vahanam, every purappadu has its own charm, yet, if one were to ask
the most majestic and most crowd-pulling ones, it would be Thiruther and
Garuda vahanam. !! .. .. .. The Brahminy kite is considered
to be the contemporary representations of Garuda; Indonesia adopts a more
stylistic approach depicting a Javanese eagle (being much larger than a
kite).

In the ongoing Brahmothsavam
at Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam today 25th June 2018 is the third day – a very important day
~ it is Garuda Vahanam for Sri Azhagiya Singa Perumal. Garuda is depicted as
having the golden body of a strong person, has a white face, wings,
prominent beak, wears a crown – massive, strong – and more than anything else –
ever devoted to Sriman Narayanan, carrying Him on his shoulders all the time.
His devotion and being close to Emperuman all the time – Garuda, is admired
as ‘PeriyaThiruvadi’.

Brahmothsavam is a
grand festivity – each day it is different Vahanam, and Perumal has classy
alankarams … on Garuda vahanam day, thousands gather early in the morning to
catch glimpse of the Lord as he comes out of the gate (Gopura vassal darsanam).
(around 5.15 am) On Garuda Sevai day, people from far and away come to
the temple, offer vasthram (new clothes), place before Lord cocoanut, fruits
& other offerings and have darshan of Lord in Garuda vahanam.

It is a day of masses ~
teeming crowds, chanting the name of Lord SrimanNarayana, offering him
everything including hundreds of vasthrams – all roads would read Madaveethis
as people rush to have darshan of Lord on Garuda and enjoy the aesal and other
festivities.

Sriman Narayana appears
riding on the mighty Garuda – to Alwar it is akin to a glorious dark
raincloud lit by a lightning, the most merciful Saviour of the Universe –
Emperuman with lotus dame Sri Mahalakshmi on his chest – provides darshan
seated on Periyathiruvadi Garuda. He ordains his heart, that having seen
Emperuman’s feet through knowledge, asks Heart to rise and
understand the greatness of eternal Saviour Sriman Narayana.

The streaming bakthas had
the pleasure of His darshan and here are some photos of people and people
- the bagavathas pleased having seen our Lord. Here
are some photos taken at Thiruvallikkeni during the Garuda Sevaipurappadu. At 05.30 am, people
waited to have the glimpse of Lord coming out of western Gopuravasal, (there
was no ‘aesal’ today due to inclement
weather) – reached Gangai gondan @ 6.50 am – purappadu from here
at around 7.30 am – the purappadu takes
so many hours and the lengthy duration only benefits the devotees, as they
could have darshan of Lord on Garuda. One can have darshan of Sri Thelliya
Singar for more than 2 hours now – come to Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam – have His darshan on Garuda Sevai